Shameful Money Grabbing M & S

Lula-Hula

Sorry guys, just need to vent :

Had to whizz up to Brooklands our 'local' out of town Tesco & M&S site & was absolutely horrified to see that Marks & Spencer have already got C******** cards & wrapping paper out on front of store display :eek: :mad: :eek:

How appallingly opportunistic / desperate & money grabbing is that ?

Think we need to name & shame all other shops trying to cash in on the most money grabbing seasonal event of the year BOOOOO

anyone else agree ?

lula x

Ames

Totally agree. BF was highly embarrassed at me the other week when I saw a box of misteltoe kisses chocolate at the checkout in morrisons and just stood there going 'it's AUGUST. It's too early for christmas stuff. They shouldn't have that out in AUGUST'. I was being a bit loud I think...

Pollycat

Most of the greeting card shops in our town have had Christmas cards on display for the last couple of weeks.....

withabix

Same time every year.

It does allow people to spread their spending over 3-4 months, so what's the real problem.

Nobody is forcing you to buy the goods are they????

IWantToBeFree_2

Seems to get earlier every year!

I used to be a merchandiser for UK Greetings and we used to have our phase one Christmas stuff out by the end of the September at the very latest!

Although I guess its good for those who like to get their stuff early on, i'm not ashamed to say that I bought my first Christmas presents during the week.

Willsnarf1983

nothing wrong with it, its all economics and if it people didn't buy it in August or September then companies wouldn't put it out.

And as a poster already put it, you don't have to buy it now do you!!!

Will

Lula-Hula

withabix wrote: »

Same time every year.

It does allow people to spread their spending over 3-4 months, so what's the real problem.

Nobody is forcing you to buy the goods are they????

I agree that nobody is 'forcing' anyone to actually buy the goods, however my points are that :

1) It certainly brings the idea of it to the forefront of your mind &

2) We still have Hallowe'en & Guy Fawkes night to contend with first.

Actually doesnt bother me personally in the slightest cos my spirituality is earth based rather than consumer based but it still seems money grabbing

Thanks for sharing your opinion though, I do like a good discussion on a sunday morning

lula

Ames

I once heard that it was because of the sales - stuff has to have been on sale for three months before it can be reduced so they have to put it out this early. Doesn't mean I have to like it though!

CAFCGirl

We went on holiday recently and discovered a Xmas shop

Trades all the year round, with constant christmas goodies and there was people shopping in there in July.

Some people like to spread the event, rather than rush around like a headless chicken for a week. And therefore spread the cost.

Shops wouldnt do it if there wasnt those people who did buy them. So yes it might seem to be earlier and earlier, but people start thinking and buying earlier and earlier, esp with money being tight.

As someone who works in the glory of retail where we can essentially double our years takings in an 8 week period, I refuse (as a manager) to overhaul my store to Xmas till mid october but we have already started getting our xmas lines in the warehouse and will have our xmas meeting in 2 weeks. Which compared to most retailers is VERY late...

I say whichever way suits th individual, I've had people ask me about our xmas lines so its not 100% the retailers fault.....

Lula-Hula

Willsnarf1983 wrote: »

nothing wrong with it, its all economics and if it people didn't buy it in August or September then companies wouldn't put it out.

And as a poster already put it, you don't have to buy it now do you!!!

Will

Thanks Willsnarf, I gather that neither you or withabix are regulars on this forum or DFW s :rolleyes:

Pollycat

It does allow people to spread their spending over 3-4 months, so what's the real problem.

Nobody is forcing you to buy the goods are they????

Withabix
I think that's a valid point.

I can't really see how having Christmas cards on display now make M&S opportunistic / desperate & money grabbing.

Surely people will only buy the amount of cards they want - regardless of when they go on sale.
If they're the type of people who buy their cards from M&S and can afford to buy now, they will.
If they're the type of people who buy their cards from M&S but can't afford to buy now, they won't.
If they're the type of people who don't buy cards from M&S, it doesn't matter when M&S put their Christmas cards out.